The Case of the Commandery Princess and the Prime Minister’s Narrow Escape
Chapter 17
After the Sura council agreed on Azula’s departure, the date was set for three days later. The island was awash with preparations as people hurried to the village hall to register their loved ones’ details, and the military office finalized the list of soldiers traveling with Prince Azula. Others brought unique gifts to the prince’s manor, hoping the offerings would soften the Lyria Kingdom’s Basileus so that he would listen to their prince with an open mind. Sennin managed the stocking of the ship, making sure they had everything they would need even after they arrived in the Lyria Kingdom and headed to the capital, while Alva was busy planning the blessing ceremony with Lasma and Magnus.
In a strange twist of delegation, Azula found himself without much to do in those remaining three days. Alise took over all the heavy lifting, giving him time to himself. So, Azula ended up in his workshop, clearing up pending orders and planning how the business would be managed until his master, Yaitan, returned from Nerasa.
The day before the blessing ceremony and their departure, Azula finally finished arranging everything at the workshop. Returning to the manor, he detoured to the dock where he found Ruri and one of his attendants, Bato, fishing. Ruri was perched on a small stool, his arms folded tightly against his chest as he stared at the end of his fishing line sunk in the water. Bato sat on the grass behind him, chewing lazily on the edge of a blade of grass.
Azula glanced at a sundial mounted in the grass a few feet away and let out a soft sigh. His little nephew was too naughty. He was supposed to be at the village hall studying. Who knew how he had run off to the lake instead?
“Are the fish catching your bait?” Azula asked, smiling when Ruri looked up at him with bright eyes.
Ruri got up and rushed to Azula with a happy grin.
Azula picked him up, taking in Ruri’s excited expression, and tested the boy’s weight. Ruri was definitely getting heavier. Azula felt a sudden, bittersweet ache in his chest; the boy was growing so quickly that he worried by the time he returned from his long journey, Ruri would have shot up in height and forgotten him entirely.
Shaking his head to clear the melancholy, he hefted Ruri securely in his arms. “You’re getting taller by the minute. I don’t know if I’ll be able to carry you soon.”
Ruri laughed. “Godfather is the strongest. Of course, you will always carry me.”
Azula smiled and thanked Bato, who brought him a small stool and arranged it next to Ruri’s.
“How come you came fishing?” Azula asked as he sat down. “You’re supposed to be in school. Alva will be very cross later.”
“I ran away because they’re all busy making arrangements,” Ruri said. “Someone is having a blessing ceremony for leaving the island. It’s chaos at the village hall.”
Azula felt a sharp pang of guilt at the words. He swallowed hard, staring out over the water as he set Ruri down. He didn’t know how to break the news to his nephew that he was the one leaving, so he kept the secret for now, choosing instead to quietly sit beside the boy and watch the bobbing fishing rod. They fished for another hour until Ruri’s small bucket filled with fish.
Azula watched Ruri count the catch in the large bucket, which sloshed with cold water.
“One, two, three,” Ruri said, lifting his little fingers as he counted. “Mom, Grandma, Grandpa Magnus, Alva, Uncle Sennin, mm, Uncle Kalas.”
“What’s this?” Azula asked. “I don’t get counted?”
“You haven’t caught anything,” Ruri said, looking at him with expectation. “Put in some effort, Godfather.”
Azula stared at his nephew, then turned to Bato. “How come I didn’t know we were raising a little, pushy fisherman?”
“This fisherman needs help,” Ruri said, standing with his hands on his waist. He looked at Azula with a serious face. Azula had to fight a laugh.
“What could be the problem you want solved?” Azula asked. “You have a bucket, a fishing rod, and there are five fish in there already.”
“But there are too many mouths to feed in the house,” Ruri said, his green eyes filled with worry. “How did you invite so many people to stay with us?”
Azula stared at Ruri for a minute, thinking about Raithion, his son, Yulin, his general Haedor, attendant Sharian, the coroner Dain, and the nanny who was taking care of a beautiful baby girl called Skye. Ruri had met them all during the evening meal two days ago, and he had been so excited to meet Skye that he wanted to hold the baby on his own. Alise had been sure to tell the boy that Azula was the one who had invited their guests. Now it was being used against him.
Azula bit back a laugh. “Fine, Godfather is at fault.” Azula nodded. “But which people are you feeding fish?”
“The one with long black hair—he looks like the king painted in the school books. And then the big one, who looks bigger than Uncle Wolfe. Then…” Ruri lifted his right hand and waved to a spot in the back courtyard of the house.
Azula followed his gaze and, for the first time, noticed that Raithion and his people were enjoying the sunny weather in the courtyard.
“The boy, Yulin,” Ruri continued. “His baby sister. I have to catch so many fish for them. Godfather needs to help.”
Azula watched Yulin chase a ball, followed closely by Haedor and Sharian. He smiled and turned to meet his nephew’s accusing gaze. He sat up straight. “Okay, Godfather is really at fault. I should put in effort.”
“How will you help?” Ruri asked. “You didn’t even bring a fishing rod.”
“Hmm,” Azula said, nodding his head in agreement. “What are we to do?”
“What do we do?” Ruri asked.
Azula got up from his stool and stretched his arms above his head.
“Then, Godfather will have to help Ruri catch fish,” Azula said, winking at Ruri.
Azula turned to Bato. “Go to the storehouse and bring me a large bucket. We’ll probably need more help. Ask Alva to give you someone.”
“Okay,” Bato nodded and hurried to the house.
“What do you want to do?” Ruri asked.
Azula unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned the brass buttons of his coat. He shrugged out of the heavy garment with one swift motion. He removed his boots and socks, then glanced at Ruri, only to find the boy sitting on the stool trying to remove his shoes too.
“Not you,” Azula said, placing his coat next to Ruri. “I need you to guard the fish and make sure we have enough. Also, stay here in case your mom comes. She’ll want an explanation.”
“Okay,” Ruri said.
Azula stripped out of his white tunic and placed it on his coat, leaving him in only his black wool trousers. Adjusting the ties on his hips, he stretched his arms above his head for a moment, then rubbed his upper arms to warm up against the crisp air. He removed the leather tie holding his hair and dropped it on top of his clothes. His strawberry blonde hair tumbled down his back, and he crouched next to Ruri.
“I’m going to dive in and catch fish,” Azula said, his voice gentle. “Your Godfather is good at swimming. Don’t be scared and scream if I don’t come up quickly. Okay?”
“I know,” Ruri said, looking into his eyes. “I’m not scared. Uncle Sennin says you’re the best at diving on the whole island.”
“Your Uncle Sennin sure knows how to tell tales,” Azula said.
Bato returned with a friend, a young man dressed in a gray tunic and trousers who worked in the kitchen and loved cooking fish. He must have volunteered the moment he heard Ruri was fishing.
“Prince Azu, I can dive in for you,” he said when he reached them with the spare bucket and a spear.
“Thanks, Tobi, but I’ve got this. It’s a side deal I made with the little one,” Azula said, taking the light spear. “You two, stay here and help Ruri guard the fish. If Alise shows up, tell her I’m fishing.”
“Okay, Your Highness,” Bato said, pulling Ruri back away from the edge as Azula moved closer to the lake.
Azula nodded and walked to the edge of the water. His feet were bare on the cool grass, then sank into the wet, sandy soil, and then he was in the lake.
“It’s been a while since I did this,” Azula said, glancing at an expectant Ruri. “Don’t know if I’ve gotten rusty.”
Ruri sighed and shook his head, clearly doubtful.
Azula laughed and walked deeper into the cool water. Gripping the spear carefully, he slowed his steps the deeper he went. Then he gave Ruri a reassuring look as the water reached his waist, and he swam out to start spearfishing. It felt good to be enveloped by the water as he dove under. He loved the comfort it gave him as it wrapped around his skin. It filled him with a carefree sense, and, for a moment, it felt like he was twenty again, losing himself in the depths of the lake.
****
Raithion followed Yulin and Sharian to the cobbled path leading to the docks. Haedor had gone off with Dain, who wanted to see if he could get more herbs from Lasma and Alva in the storeroom they kept behind the manor. Skye’s nanny was in the kitchen with all the women who apparently helped to cook at the prince’s manor. Skye was being passed around the women, wrapped in a warm blanket, her every need catered to before she could even cry to voice it.
Raithion had no words for the warmth and care that flowed in Azula’s home. He wished they could live here forever.
Yulin was excited by the sight of the lake. He broke into a run along the cobbled path with Sharian following him close behind. Before the end of the dock, a smaller dirt path branched off to the right, leading along the grassy edge of the lake.
Yulin took off down the path, his pace increasing when he saw people sitting ahead.
It looked like a small gathering.
Raithion recognized Alise’s son, Ruri. Beside him were two men, and two large basins filled with water were placed on the edge of the lake. There were two small stools; Ruri sat on one and then stood, looking anxious as he peered into the lake.
Sharian and Yulin approached the trio, and Raithion slowed down, wanting to see if Yulin would interact. His son was quite shy when they were in the capital. He had always looked timid when Raithion was around; all he remembered was Yulin clinging to his mother’s skirt as he peered at him from behind her. But then again, Raithion had not been close enough to them to know much about Yulin. But he was learning more now about his son.
Yulin, gripped by curiosity, let go of Sharian’s hand and ran to Ruri’s side.
“What are you looking at in the water?” Yulin asked.
Raithion moved closer, grateful there was a bench he could use that would keep him from interfering with the group by the lake’s edge.
“A big fish that went in and hasn’t come out,” Ruri said, his arms crossed against his chest.
“A big fish that went in?” Yulin’s eyes widened. “And hasn’t come out. Do big fish come out on their own?”
“Mm,” Ruri nodded.
“I’ve never seen one,” Yulin said, also staring into the water with great interest.
“There is one,” Ruri said with a sigh.
“Can I wait to see it too?” Yulin asked.
“Yes,” Ruri said. “You can sit on the stool. But you may have to give it up when the big fish returns. He was sitting there.”
“Really?” Yulin asked with wide eyes. “You were sitting here with the big fish?”
“Mm,” Ruri said with a serious nod. “He likes eating macadamia nuts.”
“Wow,” Yulin said, sitting on the small stool with his attention still fixed on the water, clearly impressed by Ruri’s ability to sit and share macadamia nuts with a big fish.
“Then, can I feed it these nuts too?” Yulin asked.
“Sure,” Ruri said.
“But—but I don’t have any,” Yulin said.
“I do,” Ruri said, patting his pockets. “I’ll share with you to give him.”
“Then you’re really nice. I can meet the big fish too,” Yulin said as Ruri sat on the stool next to him, looking confident, which seemed to excite Yulin even more.
Raithion chuckled at the conversation and settled on the bench. His view of the boys was perfect, but his presence was concealed by the whispering long grass. He would not interrupt the boys as they waited for the big fish.
Sharian also joined the two attendants with Ruri, not bothering the children.
Raithion watched the two boys peering into the lake, wondering what Ruri was waiting for, until he heard a soft curse and a man with long strawberry-blonde hair sticking to his face and back rose out of the water, dressed only in black trousers. His chest was well-defined, water streaming down his skin and caressing along his chiseled muscles as fast as it dared. His skin was a beautiful golden shade from being in the sun.
Raithion’s heart stuttered when he realized it was Azula.
Azula was holding a long, ornate spear, and one end was currently lined with numerous fish. Ruri got up and clapped when he saw him. The two attendants brought the buckets even closer to the edge of the lake, adding water as Azula reached them and put his catch into the bucket.
Raithion was excited to get this glimpse of Azula away from the council and the formality of his station. Remaining on the bench, hidden from Azula’s view by the tall grass, he watched Azula smile as he made sure all his catch was securely in the bucket.
“Little ancestor, how many did you say you needed?” Azula asked as he wiped water from his face, and then he frowned when he saw Yulin. “I go out, and you suddenly have a little friend with you?”
“It’s Yulin,” Ruri said, leaning over the basin to count the fish. “I promised to let him meet a big fish. We need another catch just like that one, and then we’ll have enough. You’re amazing, Godfather.”
“Ah,” Azula said, his gaze settling on Yulin. “Yulin, is it okay to be so close to the lake? Do you feel okay?”
“I’m okay,” Yulin said, his voice shy. “Are you really the big fish that comes out of the lake?”
Azula glanced at Ruri. “What tales are you sharing now?”
“The amazing kind,” Ruri said with a grin.
“Wait for me to come teach you a new one about lying to innocent children,” Azula said as he turned to face the lake.
Azula swept his heavy, water-logged hair away from his neck, pausing to wring it out.
Raithion felt the breath catch in his throat, completely captivated by the sacred tattoos etched into Azula’s skin. Drawn in rich, striking strokes of black and gold ink, they looked less like markings and more like a permanent prayer.
On either side of Azula’s shoulder blades sat a matching pair of five vertical lines of ancient script trailing down like columns of protective text. Raithion had studied the religious manuscripts of the Sura spiritual leaders; he knew each line was an incantation meant to draw down good fortune while forming a shield against bad luck.
Between the prince’s shoulder blades, aligned directly with the nape of his neck, was a triangle formed with little boxes and nine peaks. The tattoo’s nine distinct peaks rose in a sharp, geometric triangle like a holy mountain, acting as a second request for safety. Nestled in the center of his back, framed by the triangle and the five columns of text, sat a large, intricate circle. Its three concentric ovals expanded outward, radiating ancient geometry toward the small of his back, where five final prayer lines anchored the entire design to his spine.
Looking at the sweeping ink, Raithion felt a visceral pang of empathy, imagining the raw, stinging pain of the traditional needle piercing Azula’s skin over and over again. The tattoos were not decorative: they looked like the Sura spiritual leaders had carved a living amulet into Azula’s flesh, binding him to the safety of his people.
Azula held his spear tighter and walked deeper into the lake, diving and disappearing.
“See, there goes the big fish,” Ruri said, making Raithion bite back a laugh. “Isn’t he amazing?”
“Amazing,” Yulin agreed with excitement.
Sharian moved to place the extra cloak he had been carrying for Yulin on the boy, and as he worked, he glanced at the two attendants managing the fish in the bucket.
“Can you tell me why Prince Azula has that tattoo on his back?” Sharian asked.
Raithion almost hugged him for thinking to ask.
“Our prince became chieftain at a young age. He was only twenty,” the answer came. “It was during a terrible crisis, and we all worried about the fate of the clan. The Sura monks carved an amulet on his back to protect him, bring him luck, and increase his strength. It must have worked because our island is safe now.”
“Oh,” Sharian said. “But doesn’t the eldest child become the chieftain?”
“Yes. But this time, we were in mourning, and Princess Alise was severely injured. Prince Azula stepped in and helped out. The stronger one took over.”
“My mom supports Godfather now,” Ruri added as he moved to count the fish again, pointing at them with a happy grin. “The Big Fish is amazing. We will have enough fish.”
Azula returned soon after and brought more fish for Ruri, who clapped in excitement.
Azula grinned as he watched Ruri. “Happy?”
“Mm,” Ruri said. “Should I help you get out?”
“Can you?” Azula asked, handing Ruri the spear.
Ruri struggled to balance the long spear, and his attendant helped him carry it onto the shore.
Azula scrambled out of the water, his feet bare on the grass, as he adjusted his trousers. He glanced at Sharian, who stood behind Yulin with a small smile, as he accepted a towel from Ruri’s attendant. He wrapped the heavy towel around his shoulders and moved to sit on Ruri’s stool, next to Yulin.
“Yulin, that full-of-energy Ruri, wants to feed the family fish. I had to help him get some in the lake,” Azula said to Yulin as the boy watched him wipe the edges of his hair.
“Godfather, helping is what you should do,” Ruri said, looking at him with a serious, pseudo-grown-up look.
“Yes,” Azula agreed with a nod. “Look at him; he’s a very strict taskmaster. Anyway, Yulin, do you want to eat fish with us? It will be an adventure.”
Raithion smiled at how easy it was for Azula to include Yulin.
Yulin nodded with enthusiasm, clearly excited to be part of the adventure. Raithion felt a sudden, fierce urge to step out of hiding, to cross the distance to Azula and take the towel from his hands, helping him dry his damp hair just to feel him close. But before he could act, Ruri came rushing back toward Azula and Yulin, proudly holding a massive fish with its jaws pried wide open.
“Wow, Godfather, this one is so big! Look!” Ruri laughed with glee. As he reached Azula, he tripped, stumbling directly into Yulin’s space. Terrified by the fish’s gaping mouth, Yulin panicked and burst into tears.
Before Raithion could react, Azula gathered Yulin onto his lap, making sure he sat on the dry part of his towel, wrapping him securely against his chest while gently patting his back.
“Oh, did Ruri scare you?” Azula asked, his voice a soothing rumble as he stroked Yulin’s back. “Look, he’s just excited. He isn’t trying to frighten you with the fish.”
“B-but the fish has its mouth open,” Yulin sobbed, burying his face deeper into the damp fabric. “It looks like it can eat us.”
As Yulin started crying in earnest, Azula let him hide his face against the heavy towel draped over his shoulders. He glanced up toward the hovering Sharian, right as Raithion emerged from his hiding spot and walked toward them.
Ruri quickly took the fish back to the basin and returned after washing his hands, leaning quietly against Azula’s left side.
“Okay, cry it out, Yulin,” Azula murmured, his hand making soothing, steady circles against the boy’s back. “I’m sorry the fish scared you. It didn’t mean to. Ruri got overexcited about seeing one so big. Didn’t you see him calling me a big fish earlier? Can you forgive him this once?”
Yulin hiccupped, clutching the towel.
“Uncle Big Fish,” Yulin mumbled, causing Azula to wince playfully at Ruri’s strange nicknames. “Will you be angry about the small fish not moving anymore? Will you be upset with Ruri for pulling it out of the water?”
Azula glanced at Raithion. An elegant brow lifted, a faint scowl touching his features as he stroked Yulin’s hair.
“This Uncle Big Fish could never be angry at Ruri. I brought these little fish for Ruri and for you to eat because I want you to grow as big and strong as your dad. So, do you like eating fish?” Azula asked.
“Yes,” Yulin said against the towel.
“That’s good news because it was all worth it. Then will you smile for me?” Azula asked.
Yulin sniffled and lifted his head from Azula’s shoulder, offering a hesitant, watery smile.
Azula chuckled, crossing his eyes and pulling a ridiculous face that made Yulin instantly burst into giggles. Ruri chimed in, puckering his lips like a fish, sending Yulin into another round of laughter.
“Is Yulin okay now?” Ruri asked.
“Mm,” Yulin nodded.
“I promised to share macadamia nuts,” Ruri said, leaning against Azula. “Godfather, will you help us break them?”
“Little ancestor, I’m cold. I need to change before we go crushing macadamia nuts,” Azula protested.
“After you dress,” Ruri negotiated.
“Oh, won’t we be cleaning the fish?” Azula asked. “I thought you wanted to cook it yourself.”
“Godfather!” Ruri whined.
Azula laughed and let out a soft, defeated sigh. “Slave driver,” he murmured affectionately. “I’ll do whatever you ask today. But let me dress first. Be nice to Yulin; he’s still recovering, and his daddy will worry if he falls ill again.”
“Okay,” Ruri agreed.
Azula gently set Yulin back on his feet and glanced at the two attendants. “Tobi, please take the catch inside, clean it, and grill it so Ruri can share it with everyone.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Tobi said, hurrying away to get someone to help him carry the fish inside.
Azula turned to the next man. “Bato, watch over the children. I’ll go change first, then I’ll find you all in the courtyard.”
“I will,” Bato said.
Raithion watched as Azula gathered his discarded coat, boots, and tunic, rising from the stool. As Azula approached the path, he paused directly in front of Raithion.
“Your son was frightened for a moment,” Azula said softly. “Ruri is mischievous and didn’t mean to make him cry.”
“I know,” Raithion replied, his voice low, his eyes tracking the line of Azula’s smooth jaw. “Thank you for comforting him. It’s a relief to see him making friends after everything he’s been through.”
Azula offered a nod, turning to watch the boys sprint toward the courtyard with Bato and Sharian close behind. A sudden shiver racked Azula’s bare shoulders, prompting Raithion to turn back toward the manor. Azula followed his lead, walking a step behind him while rubbing the towel through his damp hair.
Raithion intentionally slowed his stride to keep them side by side. Up close, his eyes kept drifting back to the striking tattoo lines on Azula’s back. The gold and black ink caught the sunlight, looking more like a stunning painting on Azula’s skin.
“Did they hurt?” Raithion asked softly.
Azula cast a glance sideways, a small, unreadable smile playing on his lips. “No.”
Raithion’s brow furrowed slightly at the immediate dismissal. In the five years they had been apart, Azula had learned to hide his true thoughts. There had been a time when Raithion could read every flicker of emotion across Azula’s face with a single glance; now, reading him felt like trying to decipher a locked vault.
Deciding not to press, he changed the topic.
“Your home is beautiful and warm,” Raithion said, looking toward the house. “Yulin loves it here. And the women in the kitchen have shown Skye so much love than I could have imagined. Thank you for inviting us into your space.”
Azula settled the heavy towel around his neck. “What about you, Raithion? Are you comfortable here?”
They reached the heavy front door, and Raithion stepped ahead to hold it open.
“I do feel a peace here that I haven’t felt in years,” Raithion said honestly as they stepped into the cool, quiet hallway. “I’ve slept deeply, eaten good food, and spent hours enjoying the weather in your courtyard. Everyone we’ve met has been very kind. We love it here.”
Azula walked along the hallway until he came upon the grand staircase. He stopped at the bottom stair and pivoted to face him, looking into Raithion’s eyes with a sudden, intense gaze.
“Then, Draeya Prince, hold tight to that memory of our warmth and kindness when we return to Lyria together,” Azula said softly. His gaze dropped for a fraction of a second before lifting to lock with Raithion’s again. “Don’t break your promise and unleash hell the moment we land on your home soil. It will really break my heart this time, and I won’t take it in silence again.”
Raithion stood rooted to the floorboards, the weight of the warning hanging heavily in the quiet air as Azula turned and hurried up the stairs to change.
****
<<Previous | Blades of Ashes ToC | Next>>
Sui Writes 